Plane crashes into sea

SANTIAGO, Ilocos Sur – A small private plane believed to have taken off in San Fernando City, La Union crashed into the Santiago Cove in Barangay Sabangan here yesterday, according to Mayor Josefino Miranda.

Miranda said the plane went down at 3:36 p.m. and rescuers, led by local fishermen, have yet to find survivors.

“The victims have been inside it for almost two hours, so it is impossible that there are no survivors,” Miranda said.

Poor visibility and lack of diving equipment hampered the search and rescue operation.

According to witnesses, the plane was flying low above Santorini and Vitalis, both first-class hotels and resorts, when it apparently hit the cable of a zip line, Miranda said.

It could not be ascertained how many passengers were in the plane which they believed to be a four-seater.

Rescuers recovered an identification card in the name of a certain John Estabillo of La Salle. A woman’s clothes were also retrieved. (MAR T. SUPNAD)